Table Of ContentNursing Fundamentals Demystified
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Nursing Fundamentals Demystified
Bennita W. Vaughans, MSN, RN
Patient Safety Manager
Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System
Montgomery, Alabama
Formerly Nursing Instructor and Allied Health Program Coordinator
H. Councill Trenholm State Technical College
Montgomery, Alabama
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To God for His everlasting love and the gifts He has given me. To my
husband, Charles, and my children, Kedrick and Kendra, for their
unyielding support, especially my daughter Kendra who is my number one
cheerleader and assistant. To my mother-in-law, Gertie Mae Vaughans, and
my father-in-law, Charles Vaughans, Sr., who have been loving surrogate
parents in the absence of both my parents, who are deceased. In memory of
my parents, Benjamin and Juanita Witherspoon, who gave me life and love
and made it possible for me to even have this experience. To my sisters,
Brenda and Priscilla Witherspoon, for their belief in me and the countless
encouragement they provided. To my past students, who continue to inspire
me as they now are serving in roles as my professional peers, and to my
peers in Performance Improvement at Central Alabama Veterans
Healthcare System for their support and encouragement.
CONTRIBUTORS
Peggy Hall, MSN, CRNP
Women Veteran Program Coordinator
Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System
Montgomery, Alabama
Joyce Y. Johnson, PhD, RN, CCRN
Dean and Professor, Department of Nursing
College of Sciences and Health Professions
Albany State University
Albany, Georgia
CONTENTS
Contributors
Preface
Acknowledgments
About the Author
PART I INTRODUCTION TO THE NURSING PROFESSION
CHAPTER 1 Nursing—An Evolving Profession
Overview
Historical Review
Theoretical Foundation
Nursing Roles and Education
Legal Perspectives
Ethical Perspective
Cultural Perspective
The Future of Nursing
CHAPTER 2 The Nursing Process
Overview
Assessment
Types of Assessment
Data Collection
Diagnosis
Definition
Diagnostic Process
NANDA’s Nursing Diagnosis Taxonomy
Planning
Prioritizing Diagnoses
Expected Outcomes and Outcome Criteria
Nursing Interventions
Nursing Care Plans
Implementation
Evaluation
Evaluation at the Individual Patient Level
Evaluation at the Organizational Level
Conclusion
PART II FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF NURSING CARE
CHAPTER 3 Communication and Documentation
Overview
Communication
Basic Principles
Nursing and the Communication Process
Documentation
Purpose of Documentation
Principles of Documentation
Methods of Documentation
Reporting
Conclusion
CHAPTER 4 Vital Sign Assessment
Overview
Temperature
